Voices of Recovery

Spiritual Principle a Day for June 14, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comJune 14Faith in Spiritual Principles"Many of us use spiritual principles as a power greater than ourselves."—It Works, Step Two––––=––––We all have differing experiences with religion and belief when we arrive in NA. Some of us were raised in very religious families, attending mosque, temple, or church regularly, while others grew up in secular homes without much exposure to religion or spiritual matters. One member shared, “My parents were both scientists and atheists. In my family, exploring spirituality made me more of a rebel than using drugs did.” We may show up at our first meeting with an attitude of intolerance toward all things spiritual, thinking that ideas like “faith” are total rubbish. Others of us may have rejected the idea of spiritual principles because we associated them with the religion of our childhoods that failed to protect us from addiction. Or we came to NA with an open mind, eager to try something new—or desperate to find something that would work for us. Regardless of our past experience with spiritual or religious matters, we all have work to do when we get here. We all need to learn to live in a principled manner. On the surface, it might seem like faith in a Higher Power should come easier to those of us who grew up with strong convictions about what that Higher Power is. In reality, the ability to act in faith can have very little to do with our beliefs—secular or religious. Part of acting in faith is giving up the illusion of control. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, every principle discussed in this meditation book is a force beyond our control. We can allow the power of principled action to guide us, or we can struggle to use our own power to control our lives. Step Two does not say, “We came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves,” it says, “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” It doesn’t matter much whether we understand how or why; we consistently get better results from principled action than we do from self-will. As we experience the results of living by spiritual principles, we come to believe that sanity—peace of mind and connection to ourselves and others—is possible for us.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:There are countless forces in life that I may never fully grasp. I will place my faith in spiritual principles because I know they work, even if I don’t always know how or why.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 31, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 31Being of service"Working with others is only the beginning of service work."Basic Text, p 56––––=––––We're in recovery now. Through living the program, we've attained some stability in our lives. Our faith in a Higher Power has grown. Our individual spiritual awakening is progressing comfortably. So now what? Do we simply sit still and enjoy? Of course not. We find a way to be of service.We tend to think of service only in terms of committee service or holding a position at some level, but service goes far beyond this understanding. In fact, we can find opportunities to be of service in nearly every area of our lives. Our jobs are a form of service to our communities, no matter what our occupation. The work we do in our homes serves our families. Perhaps we do volunteer work in our communities.What a difference our service efforts make! If we doubt this, we can just imagine what the world would be like if no one bothered to be of service to others. Our work serves humanity. The message we carry goes beyond the rooms of recovery, affecting everything we do.––––=––––Just for today:I will look for opportunities to be of service in everything I do.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 31, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 31The Compassion of Tradition Three"We reach out where we can, and make an effort to increase our compassion for those who don’t match our expectations or whose recovery doesn’t look like our own."—Guiding Principles, Tradition Three, “For Members”––––=––––In a program where the only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using, it logically follows that there are myriad ways to work the program of Narcotics Anonymous.What doesn’t necessarily follow that same logic is the fact that we addicts in recovery can lose our patience—or have none to start with—for addicts whose program differs from our own. For a bunch of nonconformists, we can sure be rigid. We certainly can have plenty of opinions about what works and doesn’t work: how and when we work Steps, how we sponsor, what service looks like, to hug or not to hug, to medicate or not to medicate.These are the opinions of individual members, not NA’s.Our passion about these opinions comes from our passion for recovery. We know what is working for us and what we see work for others. Yet there are times when we’d do well to infuse that passion for our experience with compassion for others who don’t “get it” the way we expect they should.When we keep an open mind about the varied ways that members recover from addiction, we are honoring Tradition Three. When we become earnest in our desire to reach out to other members who are different from us, we are practicing compassion. If there’s any logic here, that openness will make us more patient with newcomers because we know that everyone walks a different path. Who knows? We might even learn something.Translated literally from its Latin roots, compassion means “suffering together.” While some may take issue with “suffering” defining what we’re doing together in NA, there’s one thing that we can agree on: We are in this thing together.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:I am passionate about what has worked for my own recovery, but I will try to remain open-minded toward others whose paths look different from mine. Today I strive to release any expectations I have that they should recover the same way I do.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 30, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 30Action and prayer"... growth is not the result of wishing but of action and prayer"Basic Text, pp. 35-36––––=––––Sometimes it seems as if our recovery is growing much too slowly. We struggle with the steps; we wrestle with the same problems; we labor under the same uncomfortable feelings day after day. We wish that recovery would move a little faster so we could find some comfort!Wishing doesn't work in recovery; this isn't a program of magic. If wishes cured addiction, we all would have been well long ago! What does give us relief in recovery is action and prayer.Narcotics Anonymous has worked for so many addicts because it is a carefully designed program of action and prayer. The actions we undertake in each of the steps bring more and more recovery to each area of our lives. And prayer keeps us connected to our Higher Power. Together, action and prayer keep us well-grounded in recovery.––––=––––Just for today:My recovery is too precious to just wish about it. Today is a good day for action and prayer. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 30, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 30Letting Trust Take Root"Simply allowing someone to be with us as we go about our lives can be priceless."—Living Clean, Chapter 2, “Connection to Others”––––=––––Being a member of NA allows us to experience something many of us were looking for all along, whether we knew it or not—a sense of community. We found our people! But then, we may look around at our fellow addicts and think, I’m supposed to trust these people?The answer is, not all of them, and not all at once. An H&I speaker often joked, “The good news is, there’s hope. The bad news is, it’s us!” Like love and courage, trust usually begins with action, and the feeling comes later. We start with a sponsor and grow our circle from there.We don’t have to like everyone in NA, but we do need to recover with some of them. After being clean for a while, we often feel a special connection to the members we got clean with, the people who were around in early recovery. We may grow to appreciate the traits or qualities we don’t like about some fellow members—we know them well enough to trust they are who they are, and there’s something reliable about that. We show up for each other, warts and all.“My mom was a difficult person with few friends at the end of her life,” a member wrote.“We didn’t expect anyone but our immediate family to attend her memorial service. I looked up to see members of ‘my crew’—the folks I cleaned up with—walking in. They didn’t know my mom, but they knew me.”Being part of the NA community helps us develop a practical form of trust, which we then find useful in so many other areas. We show up for others—and let them show up for us— in our family, work, and romantic relationships. We allow others to be who they are, and we have the courage and willingness to be who we are alongside them. We share the road together.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:Trust can sometimes spring up in unlikely places. I will be myself, allow others to be themselves, and let trust take root where it will.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 29, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 29Through others' eyes"When someone points out a shortcoming, our first reaction may be defensive....[But] if we truly want to be free, we will take a good look at input from fellow addicts."Basic Text p.35––––=––––At some point in our recovery, we come to the awkward realization that the way we see ourselves is not necessarily the way others do. We are probably neither as bad, as good, as beautiful, or as ugly as we think we are-but we are too close to ourselves to really tell for sure. That's where our friends in the program come in, caring enough to share with us what they see when they look in our direction. They tell us the good things about ourselves we might not know-and they tell us the hard things, too, that we might not be able to see.We may react defensively to such "help"-and, in some cases, justly so. However, even malicious remarks about our supposed shortcomings can shed light on aspects of our recovery that we cannot see ourselves. Wherever a useful insight comes from, for whatever reason it is offered, we cannot afford to discount it.We don't need to wait for others to spontaneously offer their insight. When we spend time with our sponsor or other NA members we trust, we can make the first move and ask them to tell us what they see about particular areas of our lives to which we are blind. We want a broader vision of our life than just our own; we can have that vision by seeing ourselves through the eyes of others.––––=––––Just for today:I seek to see myself as I truly am. I will listen to what others say about me, and see myself through their eyes. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 29, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 29Remaining Steadfast"We learn what is true for us, and that sets the direction for our lives."—Living Clean, Chapter 2, “Connection to a Higher Power”––––=––––Early in recovery, each of us grapples with some troublesome truths about our addiction and our lives. Coming to terms with our powerlessness marks a vital shift in our perspective, and we strive to accept this reality on a daily basis. Many of us do this consciously in prayer or while meditating. We read today’s JFT. We write in our journal. We go to a meeting and say, “I am an addict.” Or all we do is not use that day and go to sleep clean again.Commitment to these practices, however it looks to any of us, on whatever day, is steadfastness.Reckoning with our powerlessness leads to our unearthing many other truths. We develop new values and beliefs as we complete and share our Steps, participate in our recovery, and stay open-minded. We come to understand who we were, who we currently are, and who we want to be. We strive to live in accordance with spiritual principles we pick up along the way. Steadfastness is our anchor when we’re driven to act on a defect, harm ourselves, or lash out at others. We find that we’re better able to tame our worst tendencies or to bounce back more quickly and make amends when we do falter.We learn some difficult lessons, too, especially when our firmly held beliefs and values are challenged. Other people can be equally steadfast in adhering to NA principles in their own ways and may have beliefs we perceive as being in conflict with our own. Being steadfast doesn’t mean we’re inflexible. Rather, we attempt to find balance in those circumstances that call for a steadfast commitment to being reliable, practical, flexible, and compassionate—yes, all at the same time! We discover ways to coexist with others with whom we disagree and contend with life on its own terms, all while standing up for our beliefs.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:Whether it’s the truth of our powerlessness over our addiction, over other people, or over life’s difficulties, I can remain steadfast in the recovery practices that help me deal with it.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 28, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 28Depression"We are no longer fighting fear anger guilt, self-pity, or depression."Basic Text p.26––––=––––As addicts, many of us experience depression from time to time. When we feel depressed, we may be tempted to isolate ourselves. However, if we do this, our depression may turn to despair. We can't afford to let depression lead us back to using.Instead, we try to go about the routine of our lives. We make meeting attendance and contact with our sponsor top priorities. Sharing with others about our feelings may let us know we aren't the only ones who have been depressed in recovery.Working with a newcomer can work wonders for our own state of mind. And, most importantly, prayer and meditation can help us tap the power we need to survive depression.We practice acceptance and remember that feelings like depression will unquestionably pass in time. Rather than struggle with our feelings, we accept them and ask for the strength to walk through them.––––=––––Just for today:I accept that my feelings of depression won't last forever. I will talk openly about my feelings with my sponsor or another person who understands. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 28, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 28Grace in Our Treatment of Others"Anonymity opens us to grace."—Guiding Principles, Tradition Twelve, Opening Reflection––––=––––Within the rooms of NA, anonymity provides an important bridge to gracious behavior.Anonymity allows us to see each other as equals and to identify our common bond. It stands in contrast to any prejudice or old belief that might interfere with practicing grace.When we view our fellow members as peers, no better or worse than ourselves, grace helps us extend equal access to recovery.By setting aside the things that separate us, we can allow grace to shape our actions. We are free to look past our judgments of ourselves and others as anonymous addicts. The same holds true outside of the rooms of NA. We can practice grace whether in line at the market, on the job, or in passing. We accept that others face difficulties, just as we do, and many go through life without an opportunity to learn to live by spiritual principles. We assume that others are doing their best, even when their best is sometimes terrible.As we integrate spiritual principles in all of our affairs, it’s easier to be gracious. We show up at work and do the right thing, regardless of who else may be having a bad day. We allow family members the space to be who they are. Having rejoined humankind, we recognize what grace brings to our humanity. We’re inspired to be gracious in our words and actions.When we invite grace to guide our actions, we’re inspired to treat others with decency and respect.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:I will practice grace by treating others with kindness and respect, just as I would like to be treated.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 27, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 27God could restore us to sanity"The process of coming to believe restores us to sanity. The strength to move into action comes from this belief."Basic Text pg. 24––––=––––Now that we've finally admitted our insanity and seen examples of it in all its manifestations, we might be tempted to believe that we are doomed to repeat this behavior for the rest of our lives. Just as we thought that our active addiction was hopeless and we'd never get clean, we might now believe that our particular brand of insanity is hopeless.Not so! We know that we owe our freedom from active addiction to the grace of a loving God. If our Higher Power can perform such a miracle as relieving our obsession to use drugs, surely this Power can also relieve our insanity in all its forms.If we doubt this, all we have to do is think about the sanity that has already been restored to our lives. Maybe we've gotten carried away with our credit cards, but sanity returns when we admit defeat and cut them all up. Perhaps we've been feeling lonely and want to go visit our old using buddies. Going to visit our sponsor instead is a sane act.The insanity of our addiction recedes into the past as we begin experiencing moments of sanity in our recovery. Our belief in a Power greater than ourselves grows as we begin to understand that even our brand of insanity is nothing in the face of this Power.––––=––––Just for today:I thank the God of my understanding for each sane act in my life, for I know they are indications of my restoration to sanity. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 27, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 27Harmony and Our Connection to Each Other"We see ourselves as part of something greater, and seek to live in harmony with it."—Living Clean, Chapter 3, “Spirituality Is Practical”––––=––––The connection we share with other addicts in recovery is undeniable. We bond as we share about our difficult pasts and learn to laugh at ourselves. The common solution we’ve found in the Twelve Steps of NA keeps us grounded and growing. We need each other to stay clean. We lean into this truth in the beginning and through the rough patches that life brings. “Together we can,” as the saying goes. That’s at the heart of the simplest, most profound conception of a power greater than ourselves.Belonging to something greater than ourselves is sweet, and we want more. We see the wisdom—sometimes with 20/20 hindsight—of the common refrain: “If you want more out of this program, you’ve got to put more in.” We seek opportunities to share the freedom we found in NA. We may pick up an extra slot on the phoneline or make a point of supporting a struggling group. These actions are symbolic of our commitment to “something greater.”They contribute to the harmony in the rooms and in our heads.We’re motivated, at least in part, by the good feelings and good times that doing service makes possible. While some of us love doing H&I work, others may be better suited to serving on the events or activities committee or maintaining the website. Some of us simply want to do anything other than speak at a meeting, but we will do that, too, if we are asked.There are as many ways to carry the message as there are addicts in recovery. Each member has strengths that will contribute to the work of carrying the message. When we serve together, sharing recovery from the disease of addiction, we sustain our primary purpose. Living in harmony with others brings us freedom, but we can only keep it by giving it away.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:I will contribute to the harmony in Narcotics Anonymous. I will help other addicts find their part in something greater, and I will enrich my own freedom by being of service.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

The story of your producer and host, Sophie X. with updates from our beloved Gigi, as the episode's host.

Just for Today meditation for December 26, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 26Never-Failing Power"As we learn to trust this Power, we begin to overcome our fear of life."Basic Text p.24––––=––––We are people accustomed to placing all our eggs in one basket. Many of us had one particular drug of choice that was our favorite. We relied on it to get us through each day and make life bearable. We were faithful to that drug; in fact, we committed ourselves to it without reservation. And then it turned on us. We had been betrayed by the only thing we had ever depended on, and the betrayal left us floundering.Now that we've stumbled into the rooms of recovery, we may be tempted to rely on another human being to meet our needs. We may expect this from our sponsor, our lover, or our best friend. But dependence on human beings is risky. They fall short of perfection. They may be on vacation, sleeping, or in a bad mood when we need them.Our dependence must rest on a Power greater than ourselves. No human force can restore our sanity, care for our will and our lives, or be unconditionally available and loving whenever we are in need. We place our trust in the God of our understanding, for only that Power will never fail us.––––=––––Just for today:I will place my trust in a Power greater than myself, for only that Power will never let me down. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 26, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 26Communication Is Complicated!"Taking a look at the difference between what we are saying, what is heard, and how people are responding to us can be the beginning of real change in all our relationships."—Living Clean, Chapter 7, “Principles, Practice, and Perspective”––––=––––It doesn’t take much cleantime to figure out that our communication skills could use some work. We find ourselves increasingly ready to connect, really connect, with other people.We’ll have to learn to build bridges, not burn them down. Being better communicators— and better humans, for that matter—will mean discarding some old patterns and adopting some new ones.Indulging in gossip is one of those old habits of communication we may want to rethink. We may have believed we bonded with others by sharing information that wasn’t ours to share.Even when the news seems harmless, gossiping makes us seem untrustworthy. We learn to resist the urge to fill in every gap in any conversation with rumor, speculation, and innuendo. We get more comfortable with some breaks in our conversations and learn the value of listening more and speaking less. We adopt a new habit of asking questions and practicing empathy and open-mindedness as we hear others’ points of view.Some of us suffer from overthinking, not oversharing. We second-guess the wisdom of speaking up, keeping what’s on our minds to ourselves instead. We may think we’re being considerate, but withholding our experience and ideas often keeps others at arm’s length.We might come off as shallow or stuck-up when maybe we’re just shy. Sure, there’s risk involved in putting our ideas on the table, but that vulnerability enables us to connect.To complicate matters, communication involves so much more than talking and listening. All of those nonverbal cues we exchange—facial expressions, body language, eye contact, touch—all add meaning. Communication is complicated! Often the best strategy is to check that we understand correctly or have been understood.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:Today I’ll take a closer look at how I communicate with others and identify one or two areas to work on.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 25, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 25Anonymity and self-will"The drive for personal gain... which brought so much pain in the past falls by the wayside if we adhere to the principle of anonymity"Basic Text p.73––––=––––The word anonymity itself means namelessness, but there's a larger principle at work in the anonymity of the NA program: the principle of selflessness. When we admit our powerlessness to manage our own lives, we take our first step away from self-will and our first step toward selflessness. The less we try to run our lives on self-will, the more we find the power and direction once so sorely lacking in our lives.But the principle of selflessness does a lot more than just make us feel better-it helps us live better. Our ideas of how the world should be run begin to lose their importance, and we stop trying to impose our will on everyone and everything around us. And when we abandon our "know-it-all" pretensions and start recognizing the value of other peoples' experience, we start treating them with respect. The interests of others become as important to us as our own; we start to think about what's best for the group, rather than just what's best for us. We start living a life that's bigger than we are, that's more than just us, our name, ourselves - we start living the principle of anonymity.––––=––––Just for today:God, please free me from self-will. Help me understand the principle of anonymity; help me to live selflessly. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 25, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 25Similar, Different, and United"Unity changes us. When we rise above our differences we start to understand who we are, how we fit, and how much we have to offer the world."—Guiding Principles, Tradition One, Opening Reflection––––=––––When we first come to NA, it’s suggested that we “look at the similarities, not the differences” when comparing ourselves to our fellow members. As newcomers, this may have seemed like a ploy to diminish our uniqueness. We wondered, Do they want me to think I’m just like every other addict? Impossible!To our surprise, that recommendation has been key to saving our lives. It was important for us to see the similarities in our stories and to focus on the common ground of our solution.Instead of looking at our differences as disqualifiers, we learn that our diversity is our strength. As Narcotics Anonymous members, we have the opportunity to rise above, even embrace, our differences. Many of us find an unanticipated gift in recovering with people who don’t look or sound as we do.But even more unexpected is how we learn to draw from the assortment of perspectives that we encounter in working an NA program: frequency of meeting attendance, the right number of service commitments, the difference between defects and shortcomings, and when we can start dating again. We learn from others, figure out what works for us as individuals, and make choices to benefit our personal recovery. We also benefit from witnessing and participating in, um, spirited debates about NA issues at business and area meetings. A diversity of perspectives informs our own dynamic contributions to our home group, our NA community, the Fellowship as a whole, and our personal and professional lives outside NA, even in our families.Unity does change us. It helps us to look for and appreciate our similarities and our differences.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:I know who I am and what I believe today, even as I strive to be open- minded enough to consider perspectives different from my own.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 24, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 24The group"The Twelfth Step of our personal program also says that we carry the message to the addict who still suffers.... The group is the most powerful vehicle we have for carrying the message."Basic Text p.65––––=––––When we first come to Narcotics Anonymous meetings, we meet recovering addicts.We know they are addicts because they talk about the same experiences and feelings we've had. We know they are recovering because of their serenity-they've got something we want. We feel hope when other addicts share their recovery with us in NA meetings.The atmosphere of recovery attracts us to the meetings. That atmosphere is created when group members make a commitment to work together. We try to enhance the atmosphere of recovery by helping set up for meetings, greeting newcomers, and talking with other addicts after the meeting. These demonstrations of our commitment make our meetings attractive and help our groups share their recovery.Sharing experience in meetings is one way in which we help one another, and it's often the foundation for our sense of belonging. We identify with other addicts, so we trust their message of hope. Many of us would not have stayed in Narcotics Anonymous without that sense of belonging and hope. When we share at group meetings, we support our personal recovery while helping others.––––=––––Just for today:I will reach out to another addict in my group and share my recovery. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 24, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 24Interdependence Means We’re Better Together"Recovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We need one another."—Living Clean, Chapter 5: Relationships––––=––––Many meetings start with some readings from our Basic Text. They provide the nuts and bolts of the NA program: who, what, how, why, and other staples. As newcomers, we may find it heartening to hear that we’re the most important people in the rooms. As we stay clean, we may notice the newcomer’s significance—according to “What Is the NA Program?”—stems from what having new members in the room does for the rest of us: “because we can only keep what we have by giving it away.” This gem of a line from our Basic Text captures our interdependence as members of NA. We rely on each other, and our mutual needs fit like hand in glove.We all have a lot to learn, and not just at the start of recovery. Surrender and humility keep us teachable. We can take comfort in the fact that others have faced the same steep learning curve, stayed clean, and have experiences they’re willing to share. The addict who suffers—new or otherwise—invigorates our purpose and reinforces the bonds of interdependence. We all get a turn in the barrel, and asking for help is our greatest strength. Other days bring a chance to serve; we get to articulate what worked for us and fortify our ties.We need each other—for the whole of our recovery—and our interdependence makes us better together. One member compared the strength that springs from our interdependence to the sound produced by a band: “I love a lead guitar, but it sounds even better accompanied by a rhythm guitar, a bass, and some drums. Add some vocals and a horn section and now we’re cooking. Sure, there’s a place for a drum solo or a wicked sax, but a great solo makes more sense in the context of the band—not in a vacuum.” Likewise, in NA, our strength relies, in part, on our interdependence. When we let others lean on us, when we ask for help from another member, when we cheer on each other’s solo performances, we build on the strengths of our interdependence.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:I will contemplate the web of interdependence that I am a part of today. How can I foster interdependence within my NA community?––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Spiritual Principle a Day for December 23, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 23Anonymity Gives Us All a Place to Recover"When we treat a member as an icon rather than as another addict seeking recovery, we deprive them of the opportunity to experience the recovery they may desperately need."—Living Clean, Chapter 6, “Anonymity”––––=––––The principle of anonymity is meant to guarantee all of us a place to recover from our addiction today. Though the symptoms of our disease may not be as acute at a given moment, we don’t stop needing to participate in our recovery. NA is meant to be free of status or hierarchies that can separate us from one another—or from our connection to our recovery.But we don’t practice anonymity perfectly. We can put our fellow members on various pedestals: wise oldtimer, circuit speaker, service position election winner, sponsor extraordinaire, the one with the perfect relationship or family or money or status outside of NA. Those of us who are subjected to the pedestal may end up sacrificing our needs because we feel like we shouldn’t have them anymore. No thoughts of using or acting out on defects! No complacency! Gratitude and service only! We have to maintain the aura of perfection and champion NA at every turn. We don’t dare disappoint, so we don’t share our pain and doubt. We end up with secrets, and that puts us at risk.And, honestly, sometimes we give people more credit than they deserve. Cleantime doesn’t necessarily equal recovery. Some of us end up believing our own hype and think the rules don’t apply. We use our status as a shield or even a bludgeon. But we must resist standing by, perhaps waiting for that huge ego to be brought down a peg. We’ve watched our fellow members tumble down from their pedestals. Some have lost their lives in that fall.Sometimes we need to get over ourselves! We don’t have to participate in constructing and maintaining our pedestals—or anyone else’s. No matter who we are or who others think we are, we need willingness to share honestly, courage to call each other out, and open- mindedness when someone does. We can share pride in our successes, while staying connected to where we came from. We need NA, even when we experience life’s gifts, prosperity, and luck.––––=––––Spiritual Principle:No matter what, I’ll remember that I need the message and the group. And I’ll make space to support any addict, no matter who I think they are or should be.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Just for Today meditation for December 23, read by Sophie X.Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comDecember 23New ideas"We reevaluate our old ideas so we can become acquainted with the new ideas that lead to a new way of life."Basic Text p.91––––=––––Learning to live a new way of life can be difficult. Sometimes, when the going gets especially hard, we're tempted to follow the path of least resistance and live by our old ideas again. We forget that our old ideas were killing us. To live a new way of life, we need to open our minds to new ideas.Working the steps, attending meetings, sharing with others, trusting a sponsor - these suggestions may meet our resistance, even our rebellion. The NA program requires effort, but each step in the program brings us closer to becoming the kinds of people we truly want to be. We want to change, to grow, to become something more than we are today. To do that, we open our minds, try on the new ideas we've found in NA, and learn to live a new way of life.––––=––––Just for today:I will open my mind to new ideas and learn to live my life in a new way. Just For Today Meditations for recovering addicts––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom